Survey: 75% of workers use web for personal use

WORKERS are flouting company rules by spending as much as an hour a day on the internet for personal use, a poll for Eircom reveals.

At workplaces with internet access, more than 75% of workers surf the net for personal use instead of working.

The worst offenders are aged 18 to 34, who spend the most time online at work for personal reasons. Under-35s spend an hour and five minutes a day doing personal “business” online — of which 27 minutes is on company time and 36 minutes on their lunch break or after-hours.

A Red C telephone poll of 673 men and women reveals workers are still enjoying the internet despite 60% reporting restrictions on the sites they can visit.

Of those who were quizzed, 47% are banned from social networking sites like Bebo, while 43% are barred from viewing YouTube and 38% from buying music online.

A third cannot access web-based email like Hotmail, while 25% are prevented from shopping online at sites including Amazon and Ryanair.

Pollsters found men are more likely than women to break company rules and to spend the most time on the internet in company time for personal reasons.

Workers aged 35 to 44 are the most compliant with company rules when on the internet at work, the poll found.

Of the 42 minutes a day they spend online at work for personal reasons, 15 minutes is during company time and the remainder is during their lunch break.

Those aged 45 and over spend 43 minutes a day online for personal reasons — and just over half the time online is during working hours.

Almost 40% of employees report their internet usage is monitored by software, while 27% say they feel the boss is watching with 13% say their colleagues are watching what they are up to online.

Eircom said restrictions on workplace computer use meant workers who wanted to enjoy online shopping, social networking sites and webmail would have to get broadband at home instead.

“Broadband users simply don’t have the freedom or the time to surf the internet and engage in the online activities they’re interested in while at work,” said Eircom marketing director Debbie Byrne.

Surf’s up

Who’s surfing during company time?

Under 35s: 27 minutes a day.

35 to 44-year-olds: 15 minutes.

Over-44s: 22 minutes.

Men: 25 minutes.

Women: 19 minutes.